Chain pliers



Dec. 23, 1930 F. F. FOX 7 1,785,946

CHAIN PLIERS Filed Feb. 16, 192.

' lllllllllllllll-ll ll #55656 INVENTOR. W Finn/(F FOX A TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 23, 193i) VIERA NK F. FOX, OF FEDORA SOUTH DAKOTA CHAIN rLInn's Application filed February 16, 1929. Serial No: 340,568.

This invention appertains to tools of the plier type and has for one of its primary objects the provision of a novel'tool so constructed as to facilitate the taking apart and ffassembling of sprocket chains such as used on farm machinery.

Considerable difficulty has been experienced in connecting or disconnecting the links of a sprocket chain of the type in which the links are moved at an angle relative to one another to aline the body of one link with a slot in the barrel of the adjacent link to permit the links to he slid laterally rela'- tive to one another and thus disconnected;

'15 While the links move freely angularlyrelative to one another, the shifting of the links laterally to take the same apart or connect the same is diflicult due to the friction set up between the links and the tautness of the chain.

Itis therefore another salient object of my invention to provide a simple tool of the plier type having the jaws thereof disposed laterally of the operating handles and on each side of the longitudinal-center of the tool whereby the jaws can conveniently engage adjacent links on opposite sides of the pivot thereof, whereby upon suitable manipulation of the handles the links can be readily shifted laterally to connect or disconnect the same. A further object of the invention is toprovide an improved tool of the above character, which will be durable and efficient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture, and one which can be placed upon the market at a small cost.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a sprocket chain showing my improved tool applied thereto for disconnecting a pair of the links, the tool being shown in side elevation;

Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrpws illustrating the method of using the too I a Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in thedirection of thearrows illustrating the method of using the 5 tool for taking apart the links and illus trating thenovel jaw formation of the tool;

Figure 4 isa detail section taken on the line 41- 1: of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the adjustable pivot "no connection between the jaws and the novel V j aw formation, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation illustrating a slightly modified form of the LW 05.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates my improved pair of pliers and B a sprocket chain of conventional construction generally used on farm machinery.

As shown, the chain B includes a plurality of links 10 having fiat open body portions 11 provided at their opposite ends respectively with hinge barrels 12 and hinge lugs or pintl'es 13 The barrels 1 2 areformed by bending portions of the bodies in opposite directions and these portions are spaced to define a lon gitudinal slot or channel 14. The hinge lugs or pintles 13 are also formed by bending portions of the metal from which the link is formed and it can be seen that when the links are disposed ineertain angular relations, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawing, the body" '95 11 of one link will lie inalinement with the slot 14; so that upon lateral shifting of the links the same can be separated or assembled as desired. v t Y The improved'tool A is constructed along 9 the usual plier type and includes the arcuated manipulating handles 15 and 16 which are connected at their inner ends by means of pivot bolt 17. Laterally disposed shank portions 17 and 18 are formed on the inner ends of the handles as is usual in plier construct ions and these shank portions 17' and 18 in turn carry the plier jaws 19 and 20. The arrangement of the jaws 19 and 20 forms the salient feature of the present invention and differs from the usual plier construction in that the jaws of the ordinary plier construction are arranged in alineinent with one another so as to grip the work therebetween. In my invention the jaws 19 and 20 extend laterally from the shanks 17 and 18 as indicated by the reference character 21 on opposite sides of the longitudinal aXis of the tool, whereby the jaws 19 and 20 will be at all times out of alineinent with one another and to permit the engagement of work on opposite sides of a predetermined line for a purpose which will be later described. The jaws 19 and 20 are provided with serrated jaw faces 22 for engaging the work so as to prevent slipping thereof.

I prefer to provide the pivot bolt 17 of adjustable character so that the jaws can be initially adjusted toward or away from one another so as to permit the effective use of the tool on different sized chains and the bolt 17 is carried by the shank 17 of the handle 15 and is provided with a flattened shank for movement through a restricted connecting neck 23 of a pair of openings 24 formed in the shank 18 of the handle 16. It is obvious that by shifting the bolt 17 from one opening to the other that the distance between the jaws can be varied.

In use of my improved tool, when it is desired to take apart or separate the links ofa sprocket chain, the aws 19 and 20 are placed in engagement with the adjacent links on opposite sides of the point of connection of the links, which is permitted in view of the angular relation of the jaws to their shanks and handles. Upon the application of pressure to the handles 15 and 16, the jaws will be moved toward one another but in planes on opposite sides to the point of connection of the links and if the links are in correct angular relation so as to aline the body portion 11 of one link with theslot 14E of the other link, the link can be shifted laterally and thus separated.

When it is desired to connect a pair of links of the chain, the links are again arranged in angular relation so as to aline the body of one link with the slot 14 of the other link and the jaws are then separated to their fullest extent so as to engage the links on opposite sides, and pressure is then applied to the handles 15 and 16, which will shift the links laterally and into engagement with one another.

From the above, it is obvious that my invention contemplates broadly means for arranging the jaws of a pair of pliers on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the tool. and these jaws can be angularly arranged as shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive so as to properly engage the links when the same are arranged at angles to one another or if preferred, the jaws can be bent laterally as at 25 from their shanks and then forwardly in parallel relation as at 26, clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawing.

Changes in detail may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but:

lVhat I claim as new is:

1. A tool for assembling or taking apart a sprocket chain of the type, wherein the adjacent links are moved in angular relation relative to one another to aline the body portion of one link with a slot in the hinge barrel of the adjacent link, said tool comprising a pair of pivotally connected handles, and j aws carried by the forward ends of the handles in advance of the pivot point thereof arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the tool and out of alinement with one another on opposite sides of a line at right angles to the pivot point of the handles so as to engage a pair of adjacent links on opposite sides of the pivot point thereof, the inner faces of the jaws being serrated for engagement with said links.

2. A tool for assembling or taking apart a sprocket chain of the type, wherein the adjacent links are moved in angular relation relative to one another to align the body portion of one link with a slot in the hinge barrel of the adjacent link, said tool comprising a pair of pivotally connected handles, and jaws carried by the forward ends of. the handles in advance of the pivot point thereof arranged on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the tool and out of alignment with one another on opposite sides of a line at right an les to the pivot )ointof the handies, so as to engage a pair of adjacent links on opposite sides of the pivot point thereof, the inner faces of the jaws having means for receivin g the links for holding the same against slipping movement during operation thereof.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signature.

FRANK F. FOX. 

